Delaware requires 50 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night, during the Level 1 learner's permit period. The detail that catches Delaware families off guard: the supervising driver has to be at least 25 years old, not 21 like almost everywhere else. A parent, guardian, or other adult signs a log sheet certifying the hours. Drivers under 18 also have to complete a state-approved driver education course, and the Level 1 permit has to be held for six months before Level 2 driving privileges begin.
Delaware supervised driving requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Delaware |
|---|---|
| Total supervised hours | 50 hours |
| Night hours | 10 hours at night (of the 50) |
| Professional / instructor hours | A state-approved driver education course is required for drivers under 18 — behind-the-wheel training hours in the course are separate from the 50 |
| Minimum permit age | 16 (Level 1 learner's permit) |
| Permit holding period | 6 months at Level 1 before Level 2 privileges |
| Permit validity | Check the expiration on the permit — the six-month Level 1 period runs from the issue date |
| Who may supervise | Licensed driver at least 25 years old, in the front passenger seat |
| Official log form | Delaware provides a behind-the-wheel log sheet / affidavit for certifying the 50 hours — download the current version from the DMV |
| Certification method | Parent, guardian, or supervising adult signs the log sheet, which is submitted to the DMV |
| State app or program | None. Delaware does not publish an official hour-logging app. |
Who can supervise practice driving in Delaware
The age floor here is the single most important rule on this page, because getting it wrong invalidates hours you already drove.
- At least 25 years old and licensed — Delaware sets a higher bar than the 21 most states use.
- Seated in the front passenger seat for the entire drive.
- A licensed driving instructor qualifies during a lesson regardless.
- A 22-year-old sibling does not count in Delaware. If hours were driven with someone under 25, they should not go on the log.
Night hours, and what "night" means here
Ten of the 50 hours have to be at night. Delaware does not publish a strict clock definition, so read night as actual darkness — after sunset, before sunrise. Delaware's Level 1 permit already carries a night driving restriction, so most permit-period night practice is happening in the early evening anyway, which is fine: 6 PM to 8 PM in November and December is fully dark and completely normal driving time. Ten hours is roughly twenty half-hour drives. Get some of them on Route 1 and some on unlit back roads in Kent and Sussex — those are different skills.
What counts as a loggable hour
- Public-road driving with a qualified supervisor counts. The trip to school, errands, highway miles, practice loops around the neighborhood — it all counts as long as the permit holder is at the wheel and the supervising driver is in the front passenger seat.
- Time parked, idling, or waiting in a drive-through does not count. Log driving time, not trip time.
- Empty parking lots and closed courses generally do not count. The point of the requirement is real traffic.
- Hours before the permit was issued do not count. The permit has to be in hand first.
- Log the supervisor's name. Because of the age-25 rule, a Delaware log that records who was in the passenger seat is easier to defend than one that just records hours.
How to actually get to 50 hours
Fifty hours over the six-month Level 1 period is about two hours a week. Delaware is small enough that the same twenty-minute errand loop can quietly account for most of it, which is the risk — a driver who has done 50 hours on the same three roads is not really ready. Mix in Route 1 at speed, a Wilmington city drive, and at least a few beach-traffic summer weekends if the timing works.
Official Delaware resources
- Delaware DMV — Graduated Driver License — Level 1 and Level 2 rules, the 50-hour requirement, and the log sheet
- Delaware Driver Manual — the handbook the knowledge test comes from
Tracking your hours
Delaware hands you a log sheet to certify, so whatever you track with needs to translate cleanly onto it: date, duration, night or day, for each drive.
PermitReady is a free iPhone and iPad app that does two things: practice questions for the Delaware DMV permit test, and a supervised driving hours log. Each drive is one entry — date, duration, and condition tags including night, highway, rain, and heavy traffic — with a running total at the top so you always know how far you have left to go. Entries can be backdated, so a log you started late can still be complete. It works offline, and there is no account to create: nothing is uploaded, and the log lives on the phone.
Honest limits: PermitReady does not detect drives automatically, does not use GPS, is iPhone and iPad only, and does not generate a signed state affidavit. It is a record you copy from when you fill in Delaware's behind-the-wheel log sheet. If you would rather have automatic drive detection or an Android app, RoadReady has both — we compare them directly in PermitReady vs RoadReady. There is also a full write-up of the driving log and a set of printable paper templates if you would rather keep it on paper.
Frequently asked questions
How many supervised driving hours does Delaware require?
50 hours, including at least 10 at night, during the Level 1 learner's permit period. A parent, guardian, or supervising adult signs a log sheet certifying the hours.
How old does the supervising driver have to be in Delaware?
25. Delaware is one of the few states that sets the supervising driver age above the usual 21. A licensed driving instructor also qualifies. Hours driven with someone under 25 should not be logged.
How many night hours does Delaware require?
10 of the 50. Treat night as actual darkness between sunset and sunrise. Evening drives in November and December are the efficient way to bank them.
Does Delaware have an official driving log form?
Yes. The DMV provides a behind-the-wheel log sheet for certifying the 50 hours. Download the current version rather than reusing an old copy, since forms change.
Is driver education required in Delaware?
Yes, for drivers under 18. A state-approved driver education course is required, and its behind-the-wheel training hours are separate from the 50 supervised hours.
Also for Delaware
Delaware permit test practice · Supervised driving hours log · Printable log templates · Supervised driving hours by state
Verification and disclaimers
Requirements verified August 2026 against Delaware DMV, Graduated Driver License. Requirements change, and the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles can revise them without much notice — always confirm the current rules with the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles before your road test.
PermitReady's driving hours log is a personal tracking tool. It is not a state form and has not been approved or endorsed by any state licensing agency. Check with your state's DMV, RMV, DPS, BMV, or equivalent agency for which log format they require, and use their official state form if one is mandated.
RoadReady® is a registered trademark of Safe Roads Alliance, Inc. PermitReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Safe Roads Alliance, Inc.
PermitReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles or any government agency.